Manufacturing Engineer - Soft Goods

Stoke Space; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with employer match

4 weeks paid time off

10 holidays including year-end closure

Paid family/Parental leave

On-site gym / wellness stipend

Dog-friendly offices

Job summary

Stoke Space in Kent, WA seeks a full-time Manufacturing Engineer to develop soft goods capabilities and manage materials and coatings for a reusable launch vehicle. You will collaborate with design and analysis teams across the product lifecycle, owning materials, processes, and performance capabilities to drive reliable outcomes.

A first principles approach is valued. You will work with a mission-driven, collaborative team, relocate to Seattle as needed, and contribute to a growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical, materials, aerospace engineering, or similar
• 3+ years of experience in thermal testing or soft goods engineering
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to work across multiple projects and teams
• Hands-on experience with soft goods development

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible engineer for soft goods (insulations, paints, foams, etc) at Stoke
• Evaluate and select materials for launch vehicle thermal and coating needs considering performance, cost and lead time
• Analyze, develop and prove material capabilities through thermal, environmental, and structural analysis, prototyping and testing
• Develop, implement and maintain processes and requirements for soft goods fabrication, implementation and maintenance
• Deliver design guidance to internal customers for improved vehicle performance
• Establish and maintain supplier relationships to improve internal quality and capabilities
• Design and fabricate equipment and tooling to support process development

Skills

Thermal testing

Soft goods engineering

Project management

Cross-functional work

Written communication

Relocation to Seattle

Education

Mechanical engineering degree

Materials engineering

Aerospace engineering

Job description

• Excellent written and verbal communication

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

We are seeking a full-time Manufacturing Engineer to join our dynamic team in developing our soft goods capabilities at our factory in Kent, WA. In this role, you will be responsible for developing thermal protective materials and coatings and standing up the capability within the factory to achieve reliable and repeatable outcomes. You will collaborate with design and analysis teams through all phases of the reusable vehicle product lifecycle. At Stoke, we value a first principles approach to engineering. In this role, you will own and develop the materials, process, and performance capabilities of soft goods at Stoke.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible engineer for soft goods (insulations, paints, foams, etc) at Stoke
• Trade, evaluate, and select appropriate materials for launch vehicle thermal and coating needs considering performance requirements, cost, and process lead time factors
• Analyze, develop, and prove material capabilities for soft goods through thermal, environmental, and structural analysis, prototyping, and test
• Author, implement, and maintain processes and requirements for soft goods fabrication, implementation, and maintenance
• Deliver design guidance to internal customers for improved vehicle performance outcomes
• Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers to develop and improve internal quality and capabilities
• Implement or fabricate equipment and tooling to support process development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar
• 3+ years of professional experience with thermal test or soft goods engineering
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work across many different projects and with many different people concurrently
• Background working with hands-on soft goods development
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Willing to relocate to Seattle, WA

Benefits

• Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full‑time employees.
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
• Holidays – 10 days (including an end‑of‑year closure)
• Paid Family/Parental Leave
• On‑site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 2 Range: $109,725 - $148,470
• Level 3 Range: $129,150 - $193,620
• Level 4 Range: $151,305 - $252,105

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per‑candidate basis.

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I‑9 at the start of employment and re‑verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I‑9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.